Ranchi tense following communal clash, schools shut

Tension prevailed in this Jharkhand capital on Tuesday after beef was found at a temple four days ago following which a communal clash took place, forcing authorities to step up vigil and shut down schools.

Ranchi: Tension prevailed in this Jharkhand capital on Tuesday after beef was found at a temple four days ago following which a communal clash took place, forcing authorities to step up vigil and shut down schools.

Around midnight on Monday, members of one community armed with sharp edged weapons attacked people of other communities and burnt houses at the Doranda locality here forcing authorities to impose restriction on movements, police said.

Security personnel have been deployed since midnight in the area. Police detained four people and are likely to arrest more people. Most of the shops were closed in the area.

According to police, the situation is under control but is still tense. The majority of the schools were closed on Tuesday.

The problem began on Friday night when beef was found in a temple.

Till Monday afternoon, there were reports of pieces of banned item being found at some prayer spots in Ranchi and its outskirts as well as other districts like Lohardaga and Chatra.

The state government issued an advertisement in local newspapers appealing to the people to maintain calm and peace.

The Congress has demanded a judicial probe into the incident.

Jharkhand Congress general secretary Alok Dubey told IANS: "If the administration and police are alert, then how is it possible that pieces of banned meat were found at places of prayer and at other places."